Neurocritical care
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and High-Protein Supplementation After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) survivors live with long-term residual physical and cognitive disability. We studied whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and high-protein supplementation (HPRO) in the first 2 weeks after SAH could preserve neuromotor and cognitive function as compared to standard of care (SOC) for nutrition and mobilization. ⋯ NMES + HPRO appears to be feasible and safe acutely after SAH and may reduce acute quadriceps muscle wasting with a lasting benefit on recovery after SAH.
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Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a vital role in mediating apoptosis in the brain following cardiac arrest (CA). Studies have shown that therapeutic hypothermia (TH) provides neuroprotection through anti-apoptosis; however, the effects of temperature variability in TH on the brain remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the different effects of temperature variability through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on apoptosis and ERS in the brain following CA. ⋯ TH can reduce neuronal apoptosis by ERS, while temperature variability does not attenuate this beneficial effect.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Remote Ischemic Pre-conditioning in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Pilot Trial.
Cerebral injury from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is twofold. The initial hemorrhage causes much of the injury; secondary injury can occur from delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a mechanism of organ protection in response to transient ischemia within a distant organ. This pilot trial sought to apply RIPC in patients with aSAH to evaluate its effect on secondary cerebral injury and resultant outcomes. ⋯ This pilot trial did demonstrate feasibility and safety. The shortened LOS in the LPO may implicate a protective role of RIPC and warrants future study.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Relationship of White Matter Lesions with Intracerebral Hemorrhage Expansion and Functional Outcome: MISTIE II and CLEAR III.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients commonly have concomitant white matter lesions (WML) which may be associated with poor outcome. We studied if WML affects hematoma expansion (HE) and post-stroke functional outcome in a post hoc analysis of patients from randomized controlled trials. ⋯ http://www.clinicaltrials.gov trial-identifiers: NCT00224770 and NCT00784134.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Observational Study
Burst Suppression: Causes and Effects on Mortality in Critical Illness.
Burst suppression in mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients is associated with increased mortality. However, the relative contributions of propofol use and critical illness itself to burst suppression; of burst suppression, propofol, and critical illness to mortality; and whether preventing burst suppression might reduce mortality, have not been quantified. ⋯ Our analysis clarifies how important factors contribute to mortality in ICU patients. Burst suppression appears to contribute to mortality but is primarily an effect of critical illness rather than iatrogenic use of propofol.